Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;DLFVIBE2&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFVIBE2’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences; single-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray florets and bright green-colored disc florets; and relative tolerance to high and low production temperatures.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Provisional application Ser. No. 62/761,600

Filed: Mar. 30, 2018

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFVIBE2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum X morifolium, commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFVIBE2’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-flowering cut Chrysanthemum plants with attractive inflorescences, strong flowering stems and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Sep. 12, 2014, of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code designation DB 11587, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code designation DB 43868, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Sep. 4, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since Sep. 4, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFVIBE2’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFVIBE2’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences.     -   5. Single-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray         florets and bright green-colored disc florets.     -   6. Relatively tolerant to high and low production temperatures.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are not as freely flowering         as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are more high temperature         tolerant than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are smaller         than inflorescences of plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Disc florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are bright         green in color whereas disc florets of plants of the male parent         selection are light yellow in color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFCOP2’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of ‘DLFCOP2’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are mostly         flat whereas ray florets of plants of ‘DLFCOP2’ are somewhat         convex.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are slightly         darker yellow in color than ray florets of plants of ‘DLFCOP2’.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Delilimonada’ not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of ‘Delilimonada’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower about four days later         than plants of ‘Delilimonada’.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are darker         yellow in color than ray florets of plants of ‘Delilimonada’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Chrysanthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFVIBE2’ grown as a spray-type.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises close-up views of the lower (top of the photographic sheet) and upper surfaces (bottom of the photographic sheet) of typical inflorescences and leaves of ‘DLFVIBE2’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem plants and were ten weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFVIBE2’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code designation DB             11587, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code designation DB             43868, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve             days at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two             weeks at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous single daisy-type cut             flower that is typically grown as a single stem spray-type;             upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 81.5             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 86 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 23.2 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 76.1 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.1 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 144A, at the             internodes, close to 146C.         -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 146C and 146D.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 12 cm. Width: About 8.7 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to             elliptic. Apex: Short apiculate. Base: Narrow attenuate.             Margin: Palmately lobed, coarsely crenate; sinuses             convergent and medium to deep in depth. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Moderately pubescent, not rugose; moderately             velvety; very slightly glossy. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Moderately pubescent, prominent venation; slightly             velvety; matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate.             Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between             137B and 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             138B. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close to             between 137A and NN137A; venation, close to 146B. Fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to between 146B and             147B; venation, close to 146C. Petioles: Length: About             1.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 4 mm. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Densely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color, upper surface:             Close to 147C; edges, close to 143A. Color, lower surface:             Close to 147C; edges, close to 143C. Stipules: Quantity and             appearance: Two leafy stipules, opposite, at the petiole             attachment to the stem. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About             1.1 cm. Shape: Flabellate. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Moderately pubescent; very slightly glossy. Texture             and luster, upper surface: Moderately pubescent; matte.             Color, upper surface: Close to between 137A and NN 137A.             Color, lower surface: Close to between 146B and 147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Single-type (daisy) inflorescence form with             elliptic to obovate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc             florets; inflorescences borne perpendicular to peduncles and             face mostly upright to slightly outwardly; ray and disc             florets develop acropetally on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             49 days later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; in             an interior environment, inflorescences and foliage will             maintain good color and substance for about two weeks;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit; when             grown as a spray-type, about 14 inflorescences develop per             flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.7 cm. Depth (height):             About 2.6 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.4 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Broadly ovoid. Color: Close to between 146D and 147D.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About             1.3 cm. Shape: Broadly oblong to roughly globular. Texture             and luster: Distally, smooth and glabrous; proximally,             sparsely pubescent; very slightly glossy. Color: Distally,             2B (immature ray florets); proximally, close to 143B.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 31 arranged in             about three whorls. Length: About 3.2 cm. Width: About             1.15 cm. Shape: Elliptic to obovate; moderately convex,             slightly to moderately carinate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Aspect: Initially             upright to about 65° from vertical. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; matte.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately velvety; slightly glossy. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 3A. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 2A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to between             5B and 6B; venation, similar to lamina; color does not             change with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 5C; venation, similar to lamina; color does not change             with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 160 spirally             arranged in about six whorls at the center of the             receptacle. Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Shape: Lower 75% fused into a tube; upper 25% free. Apex:             Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, inner and outer             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening,             inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to 144A. Mid-section:             Close to 154C. Base: Close to 145D. Color, fully opened,             inner surface: Apex: Close to 2A. Mid-section: Close to             154C. Base: Close to 145D. Color, fully opened, outer             surface: Apex and mid-section: Close to 1B. Base: Close to             145D.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 24             arranged in two whorls. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About             4 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Sparsely             pubescent; very slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close             to 137B; margins, translucent, and close to 157D; apices,             close to N199A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137A to 137B;             margins, translucent, close to 157D; apices, close to N199A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 5.7 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3 mm. Length, third             peduncle: About 7.5 cm. Diameter, terminal peduncle: About             3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Mostly             upright. Aspect, third peduncle: About 35° from the             flowering stem axis. Texture and luster: Moderately             pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 154C. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong.             Anther color: Close to 11A. Pollen amount: None observed.             Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Quantity:             One per floret. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Style length:             About 4 mm. Style color: Close to 151D. Stigma diameter:             About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft, decurrent. Stigma color:             Close to 12A. Ovary color: Close to 145D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be resistant to Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium     oxysporum f. sp. chrysanthemi). To date, resistance to pests and     other pathogens common to Chrysanthemum plants has not been observed     on plants of the new Chrysanthemum grown under commercial     conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFVIBE2’ as illustrated and described. 